Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



F. WESSON. Breath-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented May 3|, 1870;

FRANK WESSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 103,694, dated May' 31, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Wesson, of the city and county of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pistols, of which the following is a full, clear, and. exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a side view of a pistol orpocketrifle, withthe rear endof its frame constructed to receive a breech or shoulder rest, whereby the arm,

may readily'be converted into an ordinary rifle or Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Figure 3, a transverse section, taken as indicated by the line a: a: in fig. 2; and

Figure 4, an end view of the frame, looking toward the breech, with the barrel detached.

Figure 5 is an inside end view of the barrel.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. 7

My improvement consists in a novel construction and arrangement of stops for facilitating the turning of the barrel, to open it at'the breech, and .to lock or hold the same when closed, whereby increased"convenience is afforded and greater durability secured,

also a firmer-and more positive stop-action generallyobtained.

Referring to the accompanying drawing- A represents the frame, and

B, the barrel, arranged to turn on a pin, 0, secured to the frame, to admitzefzthe barrel being opened at the breech, by turning it' to one side out of line with the breech a. Pivoted to the frame, below the barrel, .as at 7),

within a recessed portion, 0, is a stop-lever, D, controlled by a spring, d, to shoot it, at its one end, into lock with a notch, c, in the lower or foot portion of the barrel, when the latter is closed or turned in line with the breech.

The other or outer end of this stop-lever D is made to project through the frame, so that, by pressure on it from the outside of the frame, said operating stop is released from its lock of the barrel, to allow of the swinging of the latter on its center pin 0, and serv ing to give a positive hold on-the barrel during the turning of it.

To prevent that destructive and frequent wear on this operating stop D by the barrel, in closing,'which would be incidental to, the barrels striking it, and which is apt to throw the barrel out of its proper line with the breech, I arrange, on the upper front portion of the frame, at the closing side of the'breech, a fixed stop, E, formed by a pin, screw, or. projection, and make, in the end of the barrel, at its closing side, a

recess, f, for the same to enter, when the barrel is closed,aud so that the barrel strikes said. stop when thrown in line with the breech. This relieves the operating stop D from strain, and prevents it from working loose. I

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and arrangement, relatively to each other, of the operating stop D, made to project through the frame for operation from the exterior, as described, the fixed stop E,- the frame A, with its breech a, the pin 0, and barrelB, essentially as specified.

NVitnesses: F. WESSON EDWARD IRWIN, O. W. WELLIN TON. 

